The Gates and Unrealized Projects for NYC Exhibition at The Shed

Christo and Jeanne-Claude: The Gates and Unrealized Projects for New York City marks the 20th anniversary of The Gates, the artists’ monumental work of temporary public art. Installed in Central Park in February 2005, the artwork consisted of 7,503 saffron-colored gates adorned with free-flowing fabric that spanned 23 miles of pathways and transformed the iconic park. This immersive exhibition at The Shed, which includes an augmented reality component, brings the spirit and vision of Christo and Jeanne-Claude to life. It offers visitors an unprecedented opportunity to explore the couple’s artistic journey, rekindling memories for those who witnessed The Gates and unveiling hidden stories for new audiences. 

The first part of the exhibition, dedicated to The Gates, includes original artworks by Christo, such as drawings, scale models, and components from the Central Park installation itself, as well as photographs and videos. The exhibition includes a virtual, animated model of The Gates on a large-scale map of the original project location, designed by technology studios Dirt Empire and Pixels Pixels. These elements guide visitors through the 25-year journey of negotiations and planning that culminated in the final project’s realization. 

The second part showcases a selection of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s visionary proposals for New York City that, though never realized, reveal the duo’s ambitious and innovative spirit and their deep connection to the city they called home from 1964 until their deaths. For the first time in the United States, these works will be presented through scale models and digital reproductions of Christo’s drawings, offering a glimpse into the creative processes behind the duo’s large-scale public art projects. 

Christo and Jeanne-Claude: The Gates and Unrealized Projects for New York City is curated by Pascal Roulin.